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Casio Cassiopeia BE-300 Pocket Manager (Color)

Casio Cassiopeia BE-300 Pocket Manager (Color)

List Price: $169.99
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Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Great hybrid PDA/PocketPC
Review: The BE300 is a cross between a high-end PDA and an entry level PocketPC - with the exception of the price! I was able to get mine for $149 at CompUSA, and I can safely say that was one great deal I got there.

Though you will see lots of reviews saying that the BE300 has too little software out there and has a 'weird' main menu (not like the windows-type menu for PocketPCs). But if you really 'dig in' and see how much resources there are for development for the BE300, you'll grab one fast!

In my case, my unit's startup screen doesn't even look any close to the default screen and why? Research, and with the help of a lot of BE300 owners and developers for this platform who knows a good deal when they see one (special thanks to all the dudes at the Brighthand Forums for the BE300). My BE300 now has a 'desktop' with the works, including selective wallpapers and startup menus like Windows has! The available software is also growing at a high good rate! Even software that run only for the PocketPC are now being ported to the BE300 (Pocketstreets, various MP3 and video players, spreadsheets).

So imagine...a $149-$199 unit (166mhz MIPS CPU w/ 16MB built-in, beautiful and very clear color screen, and CF expansion) capable running applications that a $400-600 unit can? Hmmm....go figure :-)

And with a full Windows CE Net OS upgrade in the works, the BE300 will definitely make it big time!

Some considerations: get a nice PDA case for protection(it'll fit in the Palm Glove series w/o it's face cover) and get at least a 128MB compactflash card (BE300 supports type I and II) - you'll be filling it up with applications, games, ebooks, mp3s, pics, movies in no time. :-) Do get it before they start jacking up the prices!!

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Many Downs, Few Ups
Review: Im not saying this is really a bad "Pocket Manager" , but i would not purchase it if you want any other programs than the ones that came with it. Why do i say this? Beacuse it really isnt a Windows CE machine, its BASED on windows CE. The color screen is the good, the best in its class. I dont like "trashing" items, but I i have to warn you not to buy this, unless you just need it for buissnes or school. The color screen, has a slow responce, is blurry and the the dark colors look fuzzy. It is thick, (About an inch thick) Does not have any type of linking capibilities, no beam option, but you dont need one, theres nothing to beam. Also video files have to be in .CMF format (Casio Movie Format) and they dont have incoders to turn video diels into the .CMF format, The only movies you can see are the ones at the casio website. I still have yet to find out how to put MP3's on it. If you think your slick and you think you go to Windows Media Player, then click, Transfer to Device, YOUR WRONG. Its not a Windows CE device so it doenst work. Installing the HotSyncing tool was a hassle, even though I am very good with that type of thing, Complex to use, no help files. Also it has a cheep feel to it, like if you squezed it it would break. Also the majority of the people I know have Palm OS based machines, hell, they ALL do, even I do (My friend got this, he thought he was cool cuase he had color, now he feels left out, 15 of us have palms, V's ,Sony Clies, And even one has a Palm III, and he cant send to us or play games ). Even though there clock speed is slower ( 16 - 33 MHZ) while Pocket PCs have processors that are 8 times faster, they feel slower, they are not as efficent as the Palms. Palms look more profesinal, are not so exspenive and have THOUSANDS of programs for them. You can send stuff to each other, and expand them. Oh yeah, this machine has a compact flash port, thats a plus. Excuse me for "hotwatering" this product. The final vertict, do not buy this machine unless you will NEVER need to expand it.
P.S. If you want it for the Mp3 player, get a Real mp3 player like a Nomad or a mindisk player.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Great potential - weak performance
Review: I purchased the Cassiopeia BE-300 because I have always respected Casio product innovativeness and excellent value.
The BE-300 is no different in this respect. Very attractive,convenient product that is excellent at the basic functions , calendar,To do lists, Notes, contacts etc. Great grahics/color screen and very user friendly in these basic 'electronic diary' type functions , plus the internal rechargeble battery. The viewer and Mp3 player is also great. Now if this is all the functionality you need the BE-300 is great.
However if you want to load other types of software which is normal for other handhelds you will be very disappointed. The 'Microsoft Windows Powered' claim is a joke. This is very misleading as the BE-300 is not based on Windows CE but on a Casio developed platform based on Windows CE. Therefore compatible software is very rare.
I am hoping that the software development accelerates and the weak MYCasio.com website is improved because I still think this is an excellent product which will become better with better software.
I will keep mine until Casio improves. I know this will one day be an excellent product.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Not bad but could be better
Review: If your looking for a cheap entry level pda this is good but i would recommend if you can find one a compaq 3150/3135 pda.
A couple of things you must know before you purchase this pda-
1st-This uses casios version of windows CE which means that normal CE programs are not compatable with this device the only way to get software is threw casio products only-which imo is a major flaw of the BE-300
2nd-The syncing may hard for some people to do, i am pretty experienced with pdas and had a problem getting things to work right so i could imagine someone doing it for the first time
If you can look pass these flaws get one your not going to find a decsent color pda in this price range,but if your looking for future expansion i would recommend either a visor handspring or like i mentioned before the compaq 3135/50

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: The BE-300 is great !!
Review: This device is a great little unit, with a fantastic screen display! It is perfect for anyone who needs to keep track of a number of people and/or appointments. With a third party software application (Ptab Spreadsheet) from Z4Soft, and the capability of Internet access, it can do anything that my home computer can do. However, the instruction manuals from Casio are poorly writtten, and do not explain some very basic principles of handheld PC's, memory, etc. Because of this, beginners in the field of heldhelds may feel overwhelmed.If you have a reasonable degree of computer savvy, then this is the unit for you !! You simply can't beat the features and expandability you get for the price !!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Cassiopeia BE-300
Review: Looked at a lot of PDA's and have used Palm in the past. For the money, can't beat it. Thicker than other PDA's and colors are not brilliant, but adequate - but offers everything most people would need.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: READ THIS NOW IF YOU ARE CONSIDERING BUYING BE
Review: BUY THIS NOW BEFORE THEY RAISE THE PRICE__I ALREADY OWN THIS AND CASIO IS COMING OUT WITH A OS UPGRADE IN MARCH_I HAVE SEEN SCREEN SHOTS OF IT__WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE__HOW MNANY OF YOU HAVE WIN XP__WELL IMAGINE HAVING WINXP ON THIS BABY__THATS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE___SO BUY THIS NOW CAUSE THE NEW OS (CE4) WILL BE EVEN BETTER LOOKING THAN PPC2k2 SO BUY THIS AND MAKE THE STUPID PPL WHO PAID 600 for An IPAQ FEEL EVEN DUMBER WHEN THEY SEE THAT U HAVE A BETTER OS AND WAIT HOW MUCH DID I PAY FOR IT 1/3 THAT OF AN IPAQ___HAHAHAHAHA!!!!! LAUGH IN THEIR FACE__WITH NEW OS ALL SOFTWARE COMPATABLITY PROBLEM WILL BE RESOLVED_1 THIS WILL NOW BE ABLE TO RUN MS IE AND WMP FOR WMA

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: The BE-300 could make Casio a major player in Pocket PC's
Review: The BE-300 could make Casio a major player in Pocket PC's if they support this product and don't dump it. First of all, I must say that the BE-300 is a unique PDA. It uses a hybrid operating system and is not exactly compatable with most existing software. Casio has some software and add-ons available at their website. I was able to find other software available by searching the web. Apparently the new operating system has an open architecture that makes it easy (for a programmer)to port software over to the new format. I was able to find this information out by searching the web. Casio should be doing this for the consumer and putting links on their website. Casio should also write directions that make sense to average people. The synchronization process was not easy to figure out. the directions say "press this" or "click that" but fail to say where "this" and "that" are. I tried repeatedly to call them but nobody would answer the phone. I finally figured it out on my own. Once you have learned how to do the synchronization and spend some time with the Pocket Manager software it's clear that the BE-300 is actually a good product and has a shot at really being something. If you want the most PDA you can get for under [price]and don't mind the learning curve, then get the BE-300.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Awsome
Review: If you don't own one of these extraordinary devices, then you need to get one. It comes with everything a buisness man needs. Also, many amazing games are avalible for purchase.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Good product for the $$$$$$$
Review: This item is great, if you are not in need of a "high powered pocket pc"! It has a more than adequate processor. Beautiful screen, and expandable memory. You can play Gameboy, Nintendo and Sega games on it after porting Pocketgb. It also comes with a Picture viewer and a very easy to use MP3 player. The software that comes with the package also contains a viewer that will allow you to only VIEW word, excell, and ppt documents, but you can download programs that will allow for editing as well. The biggest downside to the BE-300 is its incompatibility with ActiveSync. This has greatly hindered software availability with this product. .... I feel that this is a great product and would recommend it to anyone not wanting to spend >$500 on a pocket pc and who is wanting something with a little more pizazz than a Palm-os!


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